Page 98 - Security Today, April 2018

COVER STORY
CREATING A CAMERA USE POLICY
K-12 schools benefit from transparency BTy Bret McGowen
he past decade has seen a cul- tural shift, where concerns over personal privacy have gradually taken a back seat to those of security. The presence of sur-
veillance systems in our K-12 schools is a prime example of this. Whether or not stu- dents and teachers like it, cameras are now commonplace in schools. The National Cen- ter for Education Statistics reports that as of the 2013-2014 school year, 75 percent of pub- lic schools reported having surveillance cam- eras in place.1 Today, three years later, I’m sure the number is even higher.
Working for a surveillance solutions manu- facturer, it is my observation that almost all schools that are installing cameras are doing so both inside and outside their buildings. Inside the schools, cameras are being installed in hallways, lobbies, cafeterias, gymnasiums, and other general assembly areas—locations that aren’t considered private. However, on occasion, I encounter resistance from a K-12 customer who is uncomfortable with putting cameras inside the school as a result from pushback from teachers, parents and students. While I understand why people may be wor- ried about misuse of video and the potential for privacy infringements, proper transparen- cy and communication from school adminis- trators work to win supporters.
An important step is for schools to create a clearly articulated “use policy” for their sur- veillance systems. Unfortunately, too few do so. A 2015 Report by the Massachusetts ACLU reports that in a survey it conducted of fourteen districts, all reported using in-school surveillance cameras, but only one had an openly posted policy of how they were used.2 That is a small sample, but I believe it is repre- sentative of a larger trend.
Putting together a use policy is not diffi- cult. You might consult a lawyer to compose the exact wording of the document, but qual- ified systems integrators and manufacturers should be able to provide guidance on issues that need to be addressed, including how cameras should be installed, managed and monitored. Here’s what needs to be covered:
SYSTEM PURPOSE
A clear description of the system’s purpose may seem obvious, but it should be front and
center of any policy statement. In general, it should state that the intention of the system is to foster a safe and secure environment for students, staff and school visitors, as well as to protect property from theft and/or vandalism.
LOCATION OF CAMERAS
Camera placement should be limited to pub- lic areas and they should never be placed in bathrooms, locker rooms or other locations where individuals presume a sense of privacy. As for classrooms, most schools are not put- ting cameras there, as teachers’ advocacy groups have strongly argued against it. One exception is Texas, where a law went into
effect last year that mandates the use of cam- eras in classrooms where the majority of instruction is for students with special educa- tion needs.3
While it is not necessary to publicly iden- tify the location of each and every camera, schools should post signs at the entrances to all district facilities alerting the public that the property is under surveillance. This makes sure that anyone coming or going is aware of the existence of cameras and that, alone, can serve as an effective deterrent.
MONITORING POLICY
A school’s decision of whether to monitor
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